Service dress tunic : Signalman R E Hill, Royal Australian Signal Corps

Khaki wool twill Australian Army service dress tunic lined with green polished cotton. There are two pleated breast pockets with triple pointed flaps, each secured by a Royal Australian Signal Corps (RASC) gold anodised button, and two pockets with plain flaps below the waist. Each corner of each breast pocket is fitted with a small snap fastener. The sleeves are plain and there is a centre back vent extending the full depth of the tunic skirt. The tunic fastens down the front with four gold anodised RASC buttons. Two concealed hook and eye attachments are attached to the front between the third and fourth buttons. The rear of the tunic is provided with a pair of belt loops and a pair of brass belt supports to which is attached the waist belt, fitted with a gold anodised metal buckle. There are a pair of Signal Corps badges on each collar and the shoulder straps are secured with anodised RASC buttons. A blue Signal Corps lanyard loops through the proper right shoulder strap and locates in the right breast pocket. A cotton label sewn to the inside details the maker and date, and states: 'Dry clean only; Re-press using hot iron and damp cloth or; Medium to hot steam iron; Crease upper half of lapels only. 38 Short Class 8405 66-019-8481'.

Standard issue mid 1960s Australian service dress tunic issued to 2786678 Signalman Russell Errol Hill for his National Service. Born 17 July 1946, Hill was called up in 1967 and entered the Army on 14 April. After 10 weeks basic initial training at Kapooka, Hill undertook specific training at the School of Signals, Balcombe, Victoria; his suitablility for training was chosen based on a tone/pitch test and Hill’s natural musical ability assisted in passing this test. He passed top of his course of an entry of 20 and was judged the quickest Morse operator. Of the 20 in his course, seventeen were posted to Vietnam, while Hill and two others were retained in Australia. After a short period at Watsonia, Hill was transferred to the Rockbank Signal Receiving Station (about 60 km west of Melbourne), where he was responsible for receiving the coded incoming message from Vung Tau every 4 hours. His final post was operating the Base Radio at Portsea, Victoria.

• Service dress trousers : Signalman R E Hill, Royal Australian Signal Corps